Stephen - Nice work with the cover story for Next-Wave this month. I think you've hit on some important truths. However, I think many of us are drawn to the story because we enjoy a good story as much as we are drawn because of an inward spiritual longing. I think it's probably a combination of the two. Then again, good storytelling and good theology should not be mutually exclusive! Still, speculative fiction such as Brown's work serves a purpose by spurring us to examine our beliefs and search out historical truths.

Monday a week ago I had the chance to participate with some folks at my church at a gathering answering questions about DVC. One of the points I tried to stress is that folks *interest* in DVC is sometimes being driven by their hunger for God, even if they don't know it. I thought Witherington touched on that with his phrase "Jesus haunted."